Foldable vehicle-top.



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FOLDABLEVEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I7. 19M.

Patened Maf. l2, i918.

4 SHEES-SHEET i.

5. T. WLFE.

FOLDABLE VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION HLED JULY u. 1914.

Patente Mar. l2, 191.8.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2f J. T. WOLFE.

FOLDABLE VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED IuIY I1. 1914.

4 SH EETS-SHEIET a- @Hom/Imn J. T. WOLFE.

FOLDABLE VEHICLE TOF. APPLlcATloN man JULY 11. wm.

Patented Mm'. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

rrete.

JAMES THR'USTON VOLFE, OF VAS-IINGTON, BISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FOLDABLE VEHICLE-TOP.

Specication of Letters Latent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Application led July 1'?, 1914.. Serial No. 851,586.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Jamas TnRUsfroN 'WoLrn a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vashington, in the District ol' Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Vehicle-Tops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in oldable vehicle tops, more particularly to tops applicable to motor vehicles.

The object of the present invention is primarily to provide a foldable top wherein a center or intermediate supporting upright and bow is dispensed with, and in that connection also a top which can be easily manipulated from a folded position to an extended position and vice versa by a single person and so without undue exertion or unusual manipulation. Y Features of the invention will be presently described in detail, but in the accompanying drawings l have shown a preferred form and a number of modified forms coming under the general spirit ol' the invention and the combination oit elements employed, but l desire it to be understood that many changes can be made and mechanical equivalents employed in lieu of those shown without departing from the general nature and spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved top in its raised position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing` the forward part of the top in a position while being closed;

Fig. 3 is a plan view oit' one of the side bars and the associated cross bow;

Figs. l and 5 represent the rule joint construction between the side bars showing respectively the positions of the joint when the top is extended as in Fig. l and when it is bent down as in Fig. 2;

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate respectively side and edge views of the front securing member with attachments;

Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views without the attachments;

Fig. l() is an edge and face view of the bow bracket;

Fig. 11 shows respectively a top face and edge elevation of the shield attaching plates for the front support;

Figs. l2 and 13 are views similar to Figs. l and 2 of modiiied forms;

Fig. 13a is a side elevation, partly in section of a further modification of the construction shown;

F ig. le is a sectional side elevation oi' a form embodying the invention modified somewhat from that shown in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. l5 is a side elevation of a vehicle with the raised top and its associated parts applied.

It is a recognized desirable feature of vehicle tops at the present time to avoid, il? possible, the employment of an intermediate upright for supporting the central or forward part of the top, and it is also obviously an advantage to have a top with a forwardly extended part suliiciently extended to form the proper cover protection :tor the entire vehicle and so, without the necessity of intermediate supports. A further ascertained essential is that of rigidity of the structure against collapse when extended. These various objects are attained by the constructions shown in the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 1l inclusive, and in Fig. 15, the top is represented as comprising the usual oblique and vertical bows A, B, having at their lower ends the coupling eyes. C represents the top. This top is suiicient t0 extend to a point conveniently above the wind guard, as shown in Fig. 15 and is attached to the vertical and diagonal rear bows in the usual manner.

To secure a substantially rigid support for the forwardly extending part of the top there is secured to the forward edge of the top a bow member D, having -at its ends rearwardly projecting bars E. rlhese bars are of a length, conveniently, to extend well back to a point adjacent the center of the top, and at this point are hinged to brace bars F which are pivotally supported at their rear or inner ends to the vertical bow B adjacent the lower edge of the top part, as at f. The hinged joint between the bars E and F is conveniently of rule-joint shape having the shoulders so positioned that the bars may assume relative positions at an angle to each other, the limit of upward movement being determined by the abutting shoulders of the joint. In constructing the side bars E and F, the joint length thereof is greater than the distance between the vertical bow B and the front bowuD, so that in their active saipportingl position?,V theY two bars will in effect constitute an arch, thus giving te the top frame structure that sub stantial rigidity found in arch structures, preventing springing down and breaking tendencies. In the position of extension twov arch forming bars will converge relatively to each other toward their common joint. rlhis arch formation of top support is taken advantage of in the present structure as forming at the key or adjacent thereto a support for a pivot bow, as shown at G. This bow extends transversely of the top and has its ends bent vto conform to the curvature of the sides of the topl and these bent ends are provided conveniently with metallic extensions g. The ends of the bow G are arranged to project over the ends of the bars and above the bars E while the metal extensions g are positioned along the sides of the bars F and are pivoted to said bars F as at g. The bow G is so fashioned and arranged that when the parts are positioned for supporting the top, the bowwill engage the top intermediate its ends and as tension or stress is placed on the top by tightening the same that pressure will be received upon the top by the bow G and by it transmitted to the arch by having the ends of the bow engage the bars 'E adjacent the pivotal joint, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Secured conveniently to the bar E near its forward end adjacent the ends of the bow, by a bracket H, is the front supporting and tensioning bar H. This bar (there being two bars one on each side) has a slotted plate member H2 on its lower end and through this slot there is arranged to pass a hook member H3 on a plate H4 atv tached to the forward part of the body conveniently to the wind shield frame H5. ln practice when the top is extended, the bar H isdrawn down, tensioning the top and under the tension thus created the bar will move upward after thehook H3 has been placed in the slot in the end of the bar. rlhiswill effectually hold the top bow in its proper position and under the proper tension maintain the arch above referred to in its supporting position. It has been found convenient to 'add side rigidity to the front bow or front of the top and this is acquired by forming on the bar- H a shoulder L adjacent the pivot point thereof. This shoulder is adapted to engage the bracket plate H, as shown in Fig. 6,' thus limiting the side Amovement of the top with reference to the bar H.

HI do not wish to be understood as limit-4 ing the invention to 'the' above ,particulary construction,but4 such construction will hold the "top in proper tension. Any other form oftop' tensioning and holding means may be employed. In collapsing the top it is only necessary j to Uloosen the forward.V retaining and tensioning devices from the dash and then lift the forward bow D slightly upward permitting the pivotal connection between the two side bars E and F, to break downward, as shown in Fig 2, and then collapse .the parts in the manner, as lshown in dotted lines in said figure. fin raising the top it is only necessary to take hold of the front bow D and draw the saine forward, lifting the side arch bars E andF and fastening the front in its proper position. In this connection the side arch-for1ning bars E and F are swung upward to the position shown in Fig. 1, constituting the arch which forms as stated a very rigid and positive support for the forward part of the top, thus dispensing with all intermediate vertical supports and enabling the top to be easily collapsed or extended by a single person. rlhe special arrangement of the center bow G with its connection is such that the bow finding its resistance on the arch will give substantial support for the top atV an intermediate point, and owing to its extended arms g the bow can readily be folded into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. ln this connection the length of the bow with its arms is such that it will be positioned between B and E.

A modified form is shown in Figs. 12 and 13 wherein the rule joint for the` arch bars is dispensed with andan ordinary joint employed, but in this connection it is found desirable to form the arch bar E with an upwardly curved end portion e to which the end of the arch bar F is pivoted. On the arch bar F is a projectionl f which is pivoted to the center bow G5. rl`his center bow normally lies directly above the arch bar F when the top is extended, as shown in Fig. 12. The bow G5 finds a rest or .abutment on the seat f2 of the arch bar F. In the construction shown in these figures when the top is extended and the parts are under tension the effect will be to tend at all times to bow the arch bars upward, and as distinguished from being resisted by the center bow and the rule joint, the resistance is through the bow G5 bearing against the top, but owing to the position of the arch bars any downward ltendency of the joint therebetween will beY resisted by the abutments, as represented by the Vvertical support B and the tension of the cloth through the for ward bow and on the retaining devices H6. By this means the arch supporting elements,

, with the connectedbow element is preserved,

as in the construction shown in Figs'l and 2 and so without the necessity of a rule joint. i Y

In Fig. 14 aconstruction similarto that shown in Fig. 12 isdepicted, `with the exceptionthat in addition tothe device therein described a tensile link G6 is employed, connected to the bow G5 and to the arch bar E, which adds additional rigidity to the structure and serves to prevent downward flexing of the front side arm member ou its pivot, as distinguished from the form where the support is received by the projection of the arch bar F alone.

ln Fig. 13a there is shown a construction the same as that of Fig. 12, differing only in that the ends of the bow G5 are arranged at the sides of the arch bars F and engaging lateral projections g5 on the bar F, the parts being otherwise substantially the same, but in this connection owing to the position of the rest g5 being adjacent the pivot joint, and the fact that bar E does not have to clear vertically the projection f on folding the upward curve e of the bar E is dispensed with.

As stated, many changes can be made in the manner of coupling the intermediate bow with the arch bars and maintainingthe necessary rigidity or position of the bow without departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

lt will be seen that the top as shown in the various figures is susceptible of easy folding and raising and that when the parts are folded the intermediate bow is positioned properly with relation to the other bows. It will be observed that all parts of the forward supporting structure are united and automatically assume their proper position when in use. Of course the usual securing or tensioning` straps can be employed at the front if desired in lieu of the bars.

'Having thus described the invention, what is new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A foldable cover support comprising a rear bow, an intermediate bow, a front bow, two part rule jointed side arms projecting the front bow from and supporting it upon the rear bow, said intermediate bow being pivoted to and bearing upon said side arms and said side arms being deflected upwardly whereby the cover load is supported through said intermediate bow.

2. A foldable cover support comprising a rear bow, an intermediate bow, a front bow, side arms projecting the front bow from .and supporting it upon the rear bow, said side arms having a pivotal connection intermediate their ends and deflected upwardly whereby the cover is supported through said intermediate bow, means in the pivotal connection of the side arms adapted to limit their upward deflection and said intermediate bow pivoted to and bearing upon said side arms.

3. The combination with a vehicle top, of brackets secured to the forward end thereof, bars pivoted to said brackets and extending downward, hook members on the body, engaging parts on the bars, and shoulders for limiting the pivotal swinging movement of the bars.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES THRUSTON WOLFE.

Witnesses:

L. S. BACON, CALVIN T. MILANS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

